Brings back memories of STANAVFORLANT patrols up and down the Atlantic. RAS (as we called replenishment-at-sea), from approach to break-away, is a total textbook definition of “nearmiss”, always “interesting”, and scary. Not much room for error!
NATO STANAVFORLANT ops, of course, added the international variables!!
Another article on the same incident:
The incident recalls concerns raised following the 2017 collisions involving USS Fitzgerald and USS John S. McCain , which prompted a sweeping Navy review of navigation practices, training, and watchstanding standards. At the time, then-Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson said the service was committed to ensuring such accidents did not recur.
As I rub my magic ball I see a new MSC policy in the making…..no cell phones outside the living spaces. EMCON is a big deal and someone dropping videos before the fleet is going to effect everyone’s quality of life.
Did a SNFL as CHENG on USS MILLER in 1977, and again as XO of USS BRISCOE in 1986.
During the first one, the squadron was doing RAS in the eastbound TSS in the Straits of Gibraltar. The RN Commodore ordered a CORPEN November of 180 degrees, to shift into the westbound TSS. Of course, it was night and dark. Welcome to SNFL.
Yeah, those hit instagram almost immediately! One of them looks like the POV is from a head-mount or chest-mount cam as you see the guy using his phone with both hands in the video…would have thought the social media rules were a bit more strict than that.
Yeahhhh good luck with that. The amount of GoPro’s mounted before an unrep could be in the double digits. That’s not even counting cell phones or chest/head mounted cameras. Trying to get an OS to not carry his phone on deck is like herding cats.
I completely agree. Infinitely more difficult too with larger crews. When it comes from HQ the vessels will be forced to make an effort. I wonder how they played it when they were unrepping near the BAM or how what the policy is with the battle group in the Persian Gulf.
Just a couple of random thoughts:
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During my Navy days on FRAM DD’s during VNam, I took many UNREP photos. At the time, other filmed movies. Cell phone videos will happen, as will GOPRO [as previously mentioned]
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At the very beginning of the collision video, there appears to be “a knuckle” astern of TRUXTON, from the rudder. And that’s when TRUXTON appears to shear into SUPPLY.
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From personal [and dated] experience, I don’t think contact was avoidable, after the shear started. After the steep angle, the interaction of the two hulls would take over and suck them together.
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For TRUXTON to go DIW so quickly was pretty impressive. I don’t think the 650psi power plant of GEARING class DD’s could stop that fast.
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Much like NASCAR: Rubbin’ is race’n
Agree.
The policies are out there, along with the “don’t talk to the media” directions but every realistic emergency exercise I’ve participated in included media having direct access to the vessel crew way sooner than authorized by the company. You just have to assume everything is out there as soon as it happens.
What’s a ‘SNFL’ please?
I was replying to Binbag when he used the shortened form of Standing Naval Force Atlantic, and I used the very short form of SNFL.
Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT), established in January 1968 as NATO’s first permanent peacetime multinational naval squadron, provides a continuous maritime capability in the Atlantic for deterrence and rapid response. Re-designated as**Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 (SNMG1)**in 2005, it comprises 4–6 destroyers/frigates focused on training, exercises, and security.
… and 1 or 2 RFA or fast combat support ships big enough for a couple of paraffin budgies in the back shed - my job. Flight deck back aft gave a great view of RAS ops.
I served as a Radioman on U.S.S. Sacramento, back in early ‘70s, including 1971 and 1973 Vietnam cruises… that was back when AOEs were still Navy ships with guns. It always amazed and impressed me, how dramatic replenishing destroyers and other small vessels could be, in even moderately heavy seas…
We wrapped up our ‘73 cruise by leaving Subic Bay just ahead of a major typhoon… there were two destroyers who also needed to head back home, but were concerned that they couldn’t make Pearl Harbor if they were having to deal with a typhoon, so we escorted them back to replenish them along the way… That was definitely exciting; we coasted along pretty smoothly in those storm seas during the unrep, but the cans were bouncing all over the place!! I kept waiting for one of them to bounce into us, but fortunately that didn’t happen… I still remember the “BAM BAM BAM” sound whenever the prop lifted out of the water!!
One point was really memorable about that event… one of the ships had a dog onboard; apparently she was well-known for that, I wish I recalled the ship’s name. She was kept inside during the replenishment, but I saw her on deck a number of times during the trip…
I sailed with a very lucky captain, the machinery and those manning it did everything he asked off it which was an extraordinary amount.
His ship handling was straight out of Grand Theft Auto. Standby for RAS 400 metres astern. Execute, turns for 26 knots. Almost at RAS Position. Stop both engines- astern manoeuvring valves opened keeping shafts stopped. Ship slows rapidly, personnel can feel de acceleration. Ring turns for 12 to 14 knots. Ship sitting alongside RAS point at 80 feet. Member of the rugby team standing on a mat on top of a turret kicks a rugby ball with line attached across to the tanker.
Another day in the life of a Whitby class frigate.
Aaaaaah, those were the days. We called them back down approaches. The fast approach was best for crossing the pressure zones unhindered and everything would be fine so long as the crew on the fo’c’s’l weren’t washed overboard in the process.
I was always told that if you have a sports car you should drive it like a sports car.
I’ve never seen the rugby kick, but it sure has class.